Wringer



Patented Oct. 27, 19.42

WRINGER charles w. williams, ycleveland Heights, ohio,

assignor to Automatic Safety Wrnger Company, a partnership Applicationoctober 13, 1937, serial No. 169,734

(c1. ca -253) `11 claims.

' This invention relates to clothes wringers and more particularly tothe type adapted for household use with theordinary` domestic washingmachine.

The cardinal objection to clothes wringers generally has been theirdangerous features, often resulting in serious injury to the user.

The wringing pressure rolls are urged together with so much pressurethat permanent injury almost invariably results if a person becomescaught between the bite of the rolls. Since many clothes wringers arepower operated it is apparent that ifa persons hands become caughtbetween the rolls, unless some safety measure is provided, there ispractically no possibility of release before serious injury results.

The chief object of this invention has been to design a clothes wringeraffording a high degree of safety to the operator. Mechanism has beenprovided to stop` the roll rotation if the operator becomes caughttherein and also to release the wringing pressure between the rolls toprevent further injury.

An additional object of the invention has been to adapt this inventionto a conventional tworoll wringer, although it will be apparent thatcertain features of the invention can be applied to wringers employingmore than two rolls.

Still another object of the invention has been to provide theaforementioned safety mechanism in a simple and lefficient construction,operative either automaticallyor manually.

An additional object of the invention has been to employ the operatingpower of the wringer to actuate the safety mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will become` apparent from thespecification and drawings and from the appended claims in which thenovel features aresummarized.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. l is a small scale side elevation showing my improved wringer; 1

Fig. 2 is a Vertical section through the wringer in a plane parallel toFig. 1;`

Fig. 3 is a transverse section as indicated by thelines 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section as indicated b the lines 4-4 of Fig. 2;and Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 4, but showing the safetymechanism in a released position.

In general my invention comprises a wringer head I carried on a suitablewashing machine post I2 and supporting the wringer I4. A pair of rollsI5 and I6 are carried in thewringer and accomplish the wringing actionin a manner hereafter explained.

Power drive for the wringer is taken from the post I2 into the head I0.By means of the conventional arrangement of a pair of bevel gearsalternately connected with a driven bevel gear a stub shaft 20 in thehead may be rotated in either direction. A conventional clutch,operatedby a handle 22, effects an engagement between the driven bevelgear and either of the other two gears to drive the shaft 20.

The` main Wringer frame I4 is supported by and secured to the head bysuitable bolts. As shown in Fig. 2, the frame comprises a pair of endportions, eachof which supports and conceals the operating mechanism toactuate the rolls. The end portions are respectively formed by the frameend plates and interior web plates 25. It will be noted that the webplates. are provided with an elongated aperture 2l to facilitateassembly and permit operation of the rolls. The main frame I4 issurrnounted by a cap or top frame 30, which is secured to the main frameby suitable bolts, indicated at 32. In Figs. 4 and 5 the break linesbetween the top and main frame on either side are shown at 33. It willbe noticed in Fig. 2 that the main frame and the top frame are joinedtogether by the same bolts that connect the top of the head I0, andwhich bolts are indicated at 35.

Feed tables 40, Figs. 2 and 3, are provided, carried by the main frameI4, to facilitate feedding clothes to the wringer rolls I5 and I6v andaid in removal of liquid extracted by the rolls.

Y Since much of the liquid extracted passes between the roll I5 and thefeed tables 40 to the interior of the main frame I4, a drain hole 42 isprovided. If desired, a conventional drain board, shiftable to divertliquid from one side of the wrnger to the other, may be provided in awellknown manner.

The lowerroll I5, aside from its ability to rotate, is fixedly carriedin the frame I4. To this end a pair of journals 45 are providedsupporting the roll I5 for rotation in either direction desired. Tofacilitate assembly the righthand bearing 45 is removable from the frameand secured thereto' by bolts 48. To limit axial movement of the roll I5and the bearings 45 the shaft thereof is of sufficient length tosubstantially abut the bottoms of the bearings at each end.- Collars areprovided on the shaft of the roll I5 to maintain part of the safetymechanism in position as hereafter explained.

Carried directly above the roll I5 is the shifta shaft 52 journaled inthe frame in supporting bearings, as indicated at 55. It will be notedthat the top of the bearing 55 is elongated to permit the roll I6 torise and fall as clothes are fed through the wringing bite. As hereafterexplained, spacing collars 51 are provided at each end of the shaft 52.Axial movement of the shaft I6 is prevented by the position of thevarious parts carried on the shafts and the blocks 65, hereafterdescribed, which are in abutting relation with the bearings 55.

To drive the rolls I and I6 a gear 60 is provided on the shaft 20 whichin turn is rotated in either direction as heretofore described. The gear60 meshes with a mating gear 62, carried by the left-hand end of theshaft 52 (Fig. 2). As shown in that figure, these two gears are of thestaggered tooth type well known in the washing machine art, and eachcomprise two sets of gear I5 between respective journals and the collars50. Referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that a tongue, indicated at I01, carried by the journals 65, lies within a slot |08 of theaforementioned segment gear |05. These gear segments are idly carriedeach end of the wringen-is carried a gear I|5 teeth staggered withrespect to each other so that the space between two teeth a tooth of thecher set.

As above indicated, the roll bearings 55 as clothes are fed between thisroll and roll I5. If the roll I6 is forced upwardly far enough in thebearings 55 driving engagement between the gears 60 and 62 will cease.This feature is utilized as hereafter described to automatically stopthe pressure rolls when an excess thickness of material or the operatorshand is caught between the said rolls.

To maintain wringing pressure between the two rolls suitable springmechanism is provided at each end of the wringer and carried by the topportion 30. This mechanism is best shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 andcomprises a journal block 65 carried at each end of the roll I6. A pairof cooperating spring blocks, designated at 68, are rigidly secured tostub shaft 10 journaled in the top 30. The blocks 68 and the journalblocks 65 are linked together by an ear 12 on the blocks 65 pivotallyconnected to a link 15, which in turn of one set is opposite I6 can risein the 'is telescopically carried by a member 16 rigid with the blocks68. A pressure spring 11 is secured between each block 68 and itscorresponding jouri nal 65 and, due to the compression in the spring,applies wringing pressure between the rolls I5 and I6. Thetelescopically carried member 15 is furnished to permit reapplication ofwringing pressure on the roll I6 after the mechanism has assumed theposition shown in Fig. 5 and as herey after explained. To rock thespring members 11 and the telescopically carried member 15 together withthe journal blocks 65 from the position'of Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 4, ahandle 80, rigidly secured to the stub shaft 10, is provided.

The safety features of the wringer are actuated by either of a pair ofguard members |00, as shown in Fig. 3. Each guard member is supported ona pair of ears 82 at each end of the roll I6 and in such manner thateither guard member may be moved independently of the other. A steel barconnects the ears 82, as shown in Fig. 3, and is surrounded by acomparatively soft rubber structure which, at the lower end adjacent theroll I6, bears thereagainst to effect a stripping' action when thematerial tends to be come wrapped around the rolls. The rubber portionis necessary to resiliently maintain the stripping action and to preventinjury to the operator upon coming in contact with the release guardmechanism |00.

As shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 there is carried a segment of a gear |05 onthe shaft of the roll 75 pinned to the shaft 52 and rotated thereby.These gears are preferably about equal in pitch diameter to the diameterof the roll I6. Springs |20 connect each end of each gear segment |05 toa corresponding end of each guard member |00, as indicated in Figs. 2, 4and 5.

The operation of the safety mechanism is as follows. When a situationarises demanding release of the wringing pressure and stopping of theroll rotation the guard member |00 at the feed inside of the Wringer isshifted upwardly. This may be done either manually by the operator orautomatically due to the excess thickness of material forced between theguard and the lower roll I5, as best shown in Fig. 3. As this movementof the guard member occurs and the same is rocked upwardly the springmember |20, due to sufficient tension in the spring pulls the guardsegment |05 about its pivot on the shaft 52 until the teeth of the gearsII 5 and segments |05 engage. As soon as this takes place the drivingpower in the wringing rolls pulls the gear segment around into theposition shown in Fig. 5. Due to the difference between the pitchdiameter of the segment |05 and the diameter of the roll I5,v the upperroll I 6 is urged upwardly, thus providing a gap between the rolls andrelieving any pressure on the operators fingers. At the same time thisaction is taking place the tongues |01 lying in the slots |08 are rockedby movement of the gear segment from the position of Fig. 4 to theposition of Fig. 5. As will buckles the toggle formed by the telescopicmembers 15 and the ears 12 and snaps the pressure spring 11 to aposition where any tendency on the part of the spring to urge the rollsI5 and I6 together is removed.

The separation of the rolls I5 and I6 is accomplished by the upwardmovement of roll I6 generally vertical to the line of the wringer. Icall such movement a straight line motion to distinguish from a casewhere roll I6 is rocked, in

apart, but releases the operating pressure tending to urge themtogether. It is important to note that these operations are effected bythe power drive from the washing machine motor and are not dependentupon any manual pressure exerted by the operator unless the guard member|00 is manually rocked to initiate the throw-out mechanism. The actualthrow-out, however, in all cases is accomplished in the wringer drive.

Simultaneously with the release of the operating pressure and a forcingapart of the pressure rolls there is established a break in the drive tothe roll I6. As the segments |05, together with the gears I|5, force theroll 6 upwardly the gears 60 and 62 are forced out of driving engagementwith each other. After this release is be seen, this effected, due tothe inoperative position of the pressure spring 11, the lower gear 60rotates idly past the upturned gear A62. If it is idesired to completelyseparate the gears 60 and 62 this may easily be accomplished by aV pairof light springs |25 secured at one end about the shaft 52 of the rollI6 and at the other end to pins carried by the top 30. 'Ihese springsare strong enough to supportthe weight of roll- I6 and its associatedmechanism. It thus follows that as soon as the main pressure springs 11are rendered inactive due to the breaking `of the toggle thecomparatively light springs |25 are free to maintain the roll |6 in araised position, thus effectively disengaging the gears 60 and 62 andmaintaining a substantial gap between the rolls I and I6.

After the safety mechanism has acted and the rolls are separated, therotation is stopped and the wringing pressure released, operation may bereinstated in a very simple manner. This is accomplished merely byrocking the member 80 from the position shown in Fig. 5 back to theupright position of Fig. 4. It will be seen that this compresses thespring 11 and urges the rolls l5 and I6 into wringing relation with eachother, at the same time reengaging the gears 60 and 52. This arrangementis possible because the gear 60 is constantly rotating andthus willeasily ride into engagement with the mating gear.` Simultaneously withthe reestablishment of pressure and drive, the gear segments |05 arerocked in the `neutral position of IFig. 4 by the'springs ||0. The guardmembers |00 return to their normal position due to the tension in thesprings |20. It is noted that as the guard member |00 on the one side ofthe wringer is raised and thegear segments rock to the position shown inFig. 5, the left-hand guard |00 need not be drawn downwardly. Instead,the corresponding springs |20` lor the equivalent of such stated meansbe employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

l. In a wringer, a frame, a pair of rolls carried by said frame, powermeans to rotate said rolls, resilient means to urge said rolls togetherand mechanism operable automatically by said power means on feeding anexcess thickness of material to the wringer to shift the roll axes withrespect to each other and simultaneously release thenormal operatingpressure on the rolls.

2. In a wringer, a frame, a roll shiftably carried by the frame, asecond roll carried by the frame, power drive means to rotate saidrolls, resilient means to urge said rolls together to provide a clothesgripping bite, power operated means to separate said rolls against theaction of `said resilient means, release the clothes gripping pressurethereon and stop the roll rotation, and automatic mechanism to operatesaid power operated means consequent upon feeding an excess thickness ofmaterial to the wringer.

3. In a wringer, a frame, a roll shiftably carried by the frame, asecond roll carried by the frame, power drive means to rotate saidrolls, resilient means to urge said rolls together to provide a clothesgripping bite, power operated means to separate said rolls against theaction of said resilient meansy and automatic mechanism to operate saidpower means consequent upon feeding an excess thickness of material to`the wringer.

4. In a wringer, a'frame, a roll shiftably carried by the frame, asecond roll carried by the frame, power drive means to rotate saidrolls, resilient means to urge said rolls together to provide a clothesgripping bite, a guard member parallel with and adjacent one of saidrolls, a gear rotatably carried on an axis coincident with the axis ofone of the rolls, a toothed member idly carried coincident with theother roll axis andA operably connected with said guard member and withthe sum of the radii of the gear and toothed member greater than the sumof the radii of the two rolls, said guard member operating to shift saidtoothed member into engagement with said gear to force said rolls apart.

5. In a wringer, a frame, a roll shiftably carried by the frame, asecond roll carried by the frame, power drive means to rotate saidrolls, resilient means to urge said rolls together to provide a clothesgripping bite, a guard member parallel with and adjacent one of saidrolls, a gear rotatably carried on an axis coincident with the axis ofone of the rolls, a toothed member operably connected to said guardmember and idly carried coincident with the other roll axis and withsaid teeth lying along a segment of a pitch circle of greater diameterthan the diameter of the supporting roll, said guard member operating toshift said toothed member into engagement with said gear to force saidrolls apart.

6. In a wringer, a frame, a roll shiftably carried by the frame, asecond roll carried by the frame, power drive means to rotate saidrolls, resilient means to urge said rolls together to provide a clothesgripping bite, a guard member parallel with and adjacent one of saidrolls, a gear rotatably carried on an axis coincident with the axis ofone of the rolls, a toothed member operably' connected to said guardmember and idly carried coincident with the other roll axis and withsaid teeth lying along a segment of a pitch circle of greater diameterthan the diameter of the supporting roll, said guard member operatingeither direction to force said rolls apart in a sub-l i stantiallystraight line motion by said power means. f

8. In a wringer, a frame, a roll shiftably carried by the frame, asecond roll carried by the frame, said rolls mounted for rotation ineither direction to receive clothes from either side of the wringer,power driven means including a reversible connection to rotate saidrolls in either direction desired, resilient means to urge said rollstogether to provide a clothes gripping bite, a toothed member rotatablycarried by one of vthe roll shafts, a toothed member idly carried by theother roll shaft and with the sum of the radii of said toothed membersgreater than the sum of the radii of said rolls, and mechanism operableduring roll rotation in either direction to shift said toothed membersinto'engagement with each other to force said rolls apart.

9. In a wringer, a frame, a roll shiftably carried by the frame, asecond roll carried by the frame, said rolls mounted for rotation ineither .direction to receive clothes from either side of the wringer,power drive means including a reversible connection to rotate said rollsin either direction desired, resilient means to urge said rolls togetherto provide a clothes gripping lbite, a gear rotatably carried by one ofthe roll shafts, a toothed member idly carried by the other roll shaftand with said teeth lying along a segment of a pitch circle of greaterdiameter than the diameter of the supporting roll such that the sum ofthe radii of said gear and said toothed member is greater than the radiiof said rolls, and mechanism operable from either side of the wringerduring roll rotation in either direction to shift said toothedy memberinto engagement with said gear to force said rolls apart.

10. In a wringer, a frame, a roll shiftably carried by the frame, asecond roll carried by the frame, said rolls mounted for rotation ineither direction to receive clothes from either side of the wringer,power drive means including a reversible connection to rotate said rollsin either direction desired, resilient means to urge said rolls togetherto provide a clothes gripping bite, separating means adapted to engageeach other and in the engaged position force the two rolls apart againstthe action of said resilient means, mechanism connected with the powerdrive to operate said separating means, and a member shiftable fromeither side of the Wringer and during roll rotation in either directionto operate said separating means by the power drive.

11. In a wringer, a frame, an upper and a lower roll carried by saidframe, resilient means to urge said rolls together including a two-parttoggle mechanism, one of said parts being mounted coaxially with theupper roll, power means to rotate said rolls and means operable uponfeeding of excess thickness to the wringer to break said toggle meansand release the normal operating pressure on said rolls.

CHARLES W. WILLIAMS.

